What kinds of ivy are there

Creeping on trees and walls, or crawling in shady ground, ivy is associated with ruins, architecture, old buildings, follies and historical gardens. Not sure yet which one to choose? Look at the pictures in this article with an open heart, and then use your brain to pick the best one for you reading the descriptions, best gardening points and growing needs and tips for each type….

Naturally, the pictures in this article will help you identify the different types of ivy; on top of being beautiful, that is! While there are many differences between the different species and varieties, the first and foremost way to identify which species, cultivar etc. However, when deciding which variety you want, you will also want to know ho tall it will grow, and how thick the foliage is.

Look at a big, even self supporting ivy plant and find its roots… look carefully and you will find no roots at the base of the plant! So, how about the soil? What is the right soil for ivy? With ivy you will have little problems, because while a boggy or waterlogged soil will result in disease rot, infestations etc. Clay, chalk, loam or sandy soil are fine, with pH from alkaline to acidic but preferably near neutral and well drained.

So, without further ado, here are 15 of the best types of ivy grouped as English ivy, with many varieties, other real ivy varieties and faux ivies you can choose from! English ivy is the largest group of ivies we have; its scientific name is Hedera helix, and it is native of Europe.

It has been used in gardening for centuries, which means that there are now cultivars and varieties aplenty on top of three subspecies. The leaf of English ivy has the typical five lobes of this evergreen creeper and climber, making it a very classical choice for your garden.

However, you may have variations according to light exposure, as they may turn light green in the Sunlight. If it is the shape of the leaf that you want to highlight in your garden, then this is arguably the best variety to have. The leaves themselves are dark emerald to jade green, so, a sweet and warm shade of this color, and they are glossy, with lighter veins; they grow at regular intervals on the vines, but the overall effect is one of almost complete foliage cover.

Paler, pretty straight veins then add a silver green finishing touch to the beauty of the leaves of this English ivy. This variety too has dense and covering foliage, and, thanks to its mellow and comforting appearance, it will be perfect if you want that established look in your garden that also brings a sense of security and peace.

A very hardy and easy to grow and adaptable variety, it is a recipient of the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society and it even won the Ivy of the Year Award in Winner of the Ivy of the Year Award by the American Ivy Society in , this is a variety that you will enjoy if you want a classical look bit with a touch of originality.

The beauty of this plant is that close by, the leaves will draw you in with their rebellious look, and the wild appearance of this English ivy is then underscored by very glossy leaves indeed. They are dark rich green with lighter light at the top, and light but bright green at the bottom. But this unusual variety also has a very intriguing effect from afar; it too has very thick foliage that will completely cover your wall or fence, but the texture you will get will be very complex, decorative and rich….

They are of a glossy texture and deep and rich green color, divided fairly regularly by lighter green veins, and it is sometimes called arrowhead ivy.

The foliage of this variety is thick as well, but the overall effect differs from the ones we have seen so far… In fact, thanks to the unusual shape of its leaves. This English ivy is very suitable for tropical or Mediterranean gardens, where the many lush leaves will remind your visitors of a shady spot in an exotic place, hidden under the canopy of a green and wild rain forest.

Its leaves, as the name suggests, are curly at the edges, but the shape may vary a bot, from almost pentagonal to more clearly defined lobes but never very long. However, what makes this variety stand out is the color of its foliage: it is of a vibrant blonde, almost lemon yellow for most of the leaf, with beautiful rich and often dark green patches towards the edges of the leaf.

You can imagine the life and light infusing effect that this pretty large English ivy, with fairly thick, bright yellow and wavy foliage can have on a wall…. A variety of Ivy that comes from the Atlantic countries of Europe, Irish Ivy has a simple and heart warming beauty. This is a perfect plant if you are after a vibrant carpet of green to cover walls or fences — even big ones, as this is a giant of the Hedera genus and it can grow to be 10 storeys tall!

While it will suit modern gardens thanks to its leaf shape, it is also perfectly suited to traditional ones, as the overall appearance is that of a well known green presence from our common past. A very lush and soft variety of ivy, with large, glossy leaves that partly curl backward, making them look like drapery hanging on the branches, Persian ivy has a look of gentle abundance that can make any wall or fence look like a corner of paradise.

The leaves are big, up to about 10 inches in length 25 cm , which give it a very exotic look, and they are more heart shaped than five lobed in most varieties. It is also an excellent plant for groundcover, especially if you have a large patch of unused land that you want to turn into a thick and lush green carpet.

For yet a different effect, Russian ivy has lanceolate green leaves that grow in opposing pairs and on bright red petioles. It is shade loving and fast growing. It is a reliable ground cover and could survive even the harshest weather conditions.

It is loved as an outdoor and indoor plant because of its variegated varieties of pale green, silver gray and creamy white. It is good as trellis, ground cover and is helpful in controlling soil erosion making it famous in the coasts of California. It is a woody climber with purple stems and glossy, green foliage with red margins. The leaves are also shaped like rhombus, hence, its botanical name. It has variegated cultivars with cream margins and streaks instead of red. It also produces yellow, clustered flowers followed by black-blue fruits.

It is distinct for its large leaves spanning to up to 10 inches making it the largest ivy plant. It has both variegated and solid color cultivars.

It is slightly drought tolerant but prefers more shade and loves moist soil making it a good outdoor plant. It is also fast growing, making it necessary to prune regularly. It is a ground creeping, woody vine with deep green lobed leaves in its juvenile stage and unlobed leaves and umbel flowers as it matures. Being endemic in the Himalayas and high-altitude zones, it is tolerant to the cold but is sensitive to heat. Although it is clustered along the ivy plants, it is actually a false ivy and belongs to the grape family, Vitaceae.

But because of its three lobed leaves, it is lined in the Hedera family. It is considered deciduous and loses a lot of leaves in the fall after a full display of bright red and purple foliage. It will bloom green flowers in clusters and blue grape fruits.

They are not good as creepers but they are good for ground covers or as bedding plants. It loves moist soil and does not want full sun. It is known for its dark green, ovate leaves with purple undersides and toothed margins. It is a perennial woody vine that is fast growing and is used for ground cover and can be cultivated as outdoor shrubs. It has wider leaves than the English ivy though and it grows in forests so it really loves the shade.

It could grow very tall, a perennial climber and good for ground cover. It has a deep green, triangle shaped, unlobed, gray veined leaves and red stems. It is slow growing which makes it controllable and good for propagation as indoor and outdoor plant. It is considered as one of the rarest types of ivy. It is another rare ivy type with glossy, blackish green heart shaped leaves, wavy margins and gray veins all throughout the year.

It is endemic to limestone filled areas and is not winter hardy. It is low maintenance and is good for ground cover, trellis and walls. It is a trailing vine that could grow in any type of environment from full sun to full shade.

It has large, alternating leaves with green stems. It is also a woody shrub and a perennial bush. It is a good ground cover in sloped areas. It is commonly associated with Irish ivy but it is recognizable for its broader and longer leaves but shorter terminal lobe.

At first the bark is green but will become gray as it matures. It is considered as an evergreen perennial and typically climbs in damp and shady areas. It is a perennial climber with aerial roots.

It has broad, lobed, leathery leaves with green, red and purple stems. It is endemic in the Iberian Peninsula typically in sloped terrains and tree trunks. It is good for ground covering with no vertical surfaces. It was originally a subspecies of the Iberian ivy.

It is considered as a perennial shrub with aerial roots. It is similar to the Iberian ivy with its broad, leathery leaves expanding to 9 inches. It is good for ground cover especially for sloped terrains.

It is the most common ivy type planted in Europe and North America. It is similar to the English ivy with its glossy, dark green, lobed three-leaflet leaves. It is a vigorous climber on both vertical and non-vertical surfaces. It is considered as a weed that will smother other plants if uncontrolled.

It is one of the best ground covering plants that you can tap. It is a good ground cover for non-vertical surfaces.

It is closely related to Hedera hibernica but unlike it, it beds and roots faster especially in warm climates. It could also be propagated to grow as outdoor shrubs or indoor plants. It is commonly found climbing on tree trunks and rocky surfaces. Without a doubt, there is so much more about the ivy plant than the obvious toxicity that has continued to haunt its reputation.

The ivy is not dangerous as long as you do not touch the parts where it is toxic or allow it to be touched or ingested by pets and kids, among others. As an indoor plant, it not only beautifies the home with its cascading leaves but also serves as a natural air purifier and hastens oxygen cycle.

Overall, it is a fast-growing, very low maintenance plant and given this pool of information that we have for it, there is no wonder as to why people like you are falling in love with it. Have any questions or comments about Ivy? Stop by our discussion area and post them!

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sign in. Log into your account. Forgot your password? Password recovery. Recover your password. Get help. There are many different ivy species that exist, but it is the English Ivy, which is popularly grown as a houseplant.

English ivy is the most common variety of ivy houseplant and comes in various hybrid cultivars. The lobed and glossy foliage looks great in hanging baskets. This lovely evergreen houseplant features variegated mid-green leaves, bordered with light green hues. The foliage has an arrow shape with white and silver tones.

It displays variegated gray-green foliage with yellow margins. This plant grows fast and has a small mature size as compared to the other ivys, making it a great houseplant pick.

Image Source. It looks amazing in small containers and hanging baskets. The curly foliage of this plant gives it an interesting shape with lacy cupped leaves. This Hedera helix variety has pale green leaves when the plant is young, turning into a lush mid-green foliage with silver-white borders as it matures.

Brighten up your home with rich green leaves mottled and edged in cream and white shades. It can also be a great table plant thanks to its compact size! This stunning houseplant is more compact than other English ivy varieties and offers leaves with cream and white borders.

Can be a great hanging basket plant too! Big Shot showcases leaves with mischievously streaked hues of cream and gold. As the plant matures, the variegation turns to a rich shade of deep green.

Chicago ivy displays glossy rich leaves with soft veins. It grows fast and the foliage stays medium in size. And yes!